Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned veteran bringing home a new baby, there’s one thing on your mind: sleep.
Parents everywhere are always keeping an eye out for tips and tricks that help their little ones get a good night’s sleep. A new social media trend claims to do just that, suggesting parents give their baby a small amount of organic or grass-fed butter before bedtime. A number of moms and dads are praising the idea, but what’s the basis?
Dr. Rebecca Greenberg Carter with the University of Maryland Medical System tells PEOPLE that there is a nutritional basis, but it has lost context amid buzz from the online crowd.
“First and foremost, healthy fats are encouraged in pediatric diets only after introduction of solid foods. I would not recommend this as a food introduction prior to starting other solids — which is generally between 4 to 6 months,” she shares.
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Dr. Carter also notes that “more fatty milk production is associated with feeling fuller and sleeping better, but it may be dangerous to jump to this as a solution without exploring other reasons why your baby or toddler may be struggling to sleep through the night.”
“Most important would be addressing those issues and following up with your pediatrician,” she adds.
Brittany Sheehan, pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Brittany Sheehan Sleep, agrees, telling PEOPLE, “A child who is struggling to sleep is not magically going to become a great sleeper because they are given butter — or an ‘Okay to Wake’ clock, or magnesium rubbed on their feet, or lavender spray, or an onion under the bed.”
“The truth is, much like an ideal diet, what actually works to help babies and toddlers sleep is never a hack or a trick or a shiny new product. It’s much simpler and less exciting — proper feeding, ideal timing and duration of sleep based on the child’s age, and a consistent response from the parents if a child wakes up early — that’s it!”
Dr. Carter points out that many parents are likely to try out a “hack” before finding out the science. As a result, they should know “butter does not contain other essential nutrients needed for infant growth, so it shouldn’t be given in any size quantity that would suppress an infant’s appetite for breastmilk or formula at ages under 12 months.”
“Similarly for toddlers, butter shouldn’t be a substantive part of their diet, as it may take away from other important nutrients they would obtain through eating healthy,” she continues.
Parents should generally learn to be weary of what online “parenting hacks” as such offer, she says.
“Anything we’re referring to as a ‘hack’ that involves our bodies and our health, I’d steer clear of,” Sheehan says. “Really under no circumstance should a parent feel pressured to follow sleep ‘hacks’ for babies or toddlers, which are a waste of time and energy at best, and can be incredibly dangerous, at worst.”
Both experts agree that prioritizing overall sleep health through consistent routines and building healthy habits is key to helping your kids sleep well.
“Most important for healthy sleep is a regular, consistent bedtime routine, without screens before bed and a consistent bedtime nightly,” Dr. Carter says.
“Creating healthy sleep habits will serve your child better in the long run, and make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for years of sleep difficulty in the future.”
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